It almost looks like they are gasping for air. I have 5 goldfish and they are all doing the same thing. Please help.
2007-08-23 10:48:10 · 12 answers · asked by ***Fil*** 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
It's because they don't have enough oxygen in their water. You need to buy an aerator for their bowl. You should really get a bigger tank as soon as you can, because goldfish do get very large.
Goldfish can grow up to 14 inches long, and need 2-3 gallons for one inch of goldfish. I know it sounds like a lot, and it does get expensive, but just try getting a bigger tank, like a ten or twenty gallon, for now. Get a filter and it'll all be good. You'll have to upgrade again eventually, but your fish will live longer and happier lives.
For now, splash the surface of the water around to add oxygen to the water. They'll thank you for that.
PS - sorry, didn't mean to sound preachy. I had three goldfish in a small bowl for six months. Then two died, and I got a bigger tank. I currently have two goldfish in a ten gallon, but do plan on upgrading to a big tank. Over time, you'll watch your fish grow and love them and want to give them more space.
2007-08-23 10:58:40 · answer #1 · answered by Emily A 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Don't listen to those other people, IT IS NOT NORMAL. You are right, it IS suffocating! Goldfish don't get enough oxygen in bowls because the surface is too small. They also need more air introduced into the water using a filter. They WILL die in a day or so, a very painful death, if you don't get them into a tank, and with FIVE you need at least a 20 gallon JUST TO START. goldfish arent small fish, they are BIG fish, and they are very cool. If you want small fish, go for a molly group, they are adorable and perfect for a 10 gallon tank. You also need a very powerful filter for goldfish. For now, get to petsmart if you have no cash and get a 10 gallon for $9 and a filter for $10-20 (bigger the better if you dont want to keep changing the water). It is the ONLY way they will survive.
2007-08-23 11:56:10 · answer #2 · answered by boncarles 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you do not get your five goldfish out of a bowl and into a large tank with a high level filtration system, they will die. Not just by suffocation for lack of oxygen, but also from bloat from gulping in air and also most importantly by being poisoned by toxic water. Five goldfish in a bowl is outrageous. One shouldn't even be in a bowl, let alone five. 10 gallons of water per goldfish is the absolute minimum. If you can't afford a 50 gallon aquarium, you need to take all of these goldfish back. I refuse to advocate bowls, but the only possible kind of fish that might actual survive in a bowl is one betta.
2007-08-23 11:07:22 · answer #3 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They are suffocating. Not even one goldfish can live in a bowl. For that many goldfish you need at least a 55 gallon tank. If they are under 2 inches a 20 gallon would only hold that many for maybe a year. Goldfish really need 10 gallons of water per fish. That is your problem. You leave all those fish in that bowl and you are sentencing them all to death.
2007-08-23 11:19:56 · answer #4 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Goldfish are coldwater fish, if its too hot in your tank they will do this. I would say its your air supply though. You might have an airstone in your tank or a powerhead or a filter that hangs over the tank, but if any of these filter are too weak to move every bit of the surface of the water, they are not doing their job. Buy a new filter or a secondary filter, turn the heat off, and make sure the water is clean and your fish should stop doing this.
2016-05-21 01:54:54 · answer #5 · answered by cristi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. They shouldn't be doing this. I think the key lies in your question when you mention "fishbowl". They are not getting enough air which is why they are swimming to the surface and gasping for air. You need to get a much larger fish tank to accomodate them, preferably with an aerator or else put them in a pond otherwise they will soon die.
2007-08-23 11:01:32 · answer #6 · answered by REBECCA G 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
OMG, you have what????????????????5 goldfish in a bowl??????????????????
Are you crazy????
Each goldfish needs at least 8-10 gallon's of water
That means you need at LEAST a 40 gallon tank for your fish
Of course they will go to the surface, because they NEED oxygen, and since there is no filter, how do you think they will get it
Honey, do some research before buying fish next time
read up on the following links, otherwise you will have dead fish in no time
http://www.epinions.com/content_3185614980
http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php
Hope that helps
Good luck
EB
2007-08-23 22:35:59 · answer #7 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Goldfish are NOT bowl fish, betta fish are
Goldfish need at least 10 gallons per fish. They need oxygen, they need a bubbler, or will suffocate, you must move them to a proper tank, or return them back to the store
2007-08-23 11:30:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are gasping for air, there is no oxygen in the water. You need to make the water move, a bubbler or something, talk to your petstore. I think that 5 fish is to many for a bowl, one or two is enough.
2007-08-23 10:57:14 · answer #9 · answered by Sassybaby 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
its very normal my grandmas goldfish do that my friends goldfish do it and then one of my friends have a pond bout two or three feet deep and four feet wide and and has water plants in it which puts oxygen in the water and they still do it there just pretty much cleanig the water
2007-08-23 13:19:20 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋